# NHTSA recall 98V322000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 98V322000
- Manufacturer's number: 98S37
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 1998\-12\-16
- Owners notified: 1999\-01\-18
- Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
- Units potentially affected: 175000

## What is wrong

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:  CERTAIN 1996\-1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, NATURAL GAS, AND 1996\-1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CONTAINING A ONE PIECE BEARING; AND 1990\-1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE, FLEET, AND NGV VEHICLES AND 1990\-1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVICED WITH EITHER A BALL JOINT CONTAINING THE ONE\-PIECE BEARING OR A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM CONTAINING A BALL JOINT WITH A ONE\-PIECE BEARING.  THE ONE\-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN WEAKEN SLOWLY DURING USE AND EVENTUALLY CRACK.  THIS COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT, ALLOWING THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP TO THE GROUND.


## What can happen

IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, REDUCED STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS \(2\).


## Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JANUARY 18, 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1\-800\-392\-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1990 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1990/recalls.md)
- [1991 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1991/recalls.md)
- [1992 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1992/recalls.md)
- [1993 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1993/recalls.md)
- [1994 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1994/recalls.md)
- [1995 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1995/recalls.md)
- [1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-15 to 1998\-12\-14.
- [1997 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-15 to 1998\-12\-14.
- [1998 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1998/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-15 to 1998\-12\-14.
- [1999 FORD CROWN VICTORIA](/makes/ford/crown-victoria/1999/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-15 to 1998\-12\-14.
- [1990 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1990/recalls.md)
- [1991 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1991/recalls.md)
- [1992 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1992/recalls.md)
- [1993 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1993/recalls.md)
- [1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1994/recalls.md)
- [1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1995/recalls.md)
- [1996 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-15 to 1998\-12\-18.
- [1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-15 to 1998\-12\-18.
- [1998 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1998/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-15 to 1998\-12\-18.
- [1999 LINCOLN TOWN CAR](/makes/lincoln/town-car/1999/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-15 to 1998\-12\-18.

## Investigated as PE98045

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- PE98045: Preliminary evaluation, opened 1998\-08\-13, closed 1998\-12\-18. BALL JOINT FAILURE. STEERING.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V322000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V322000/investigations)

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V322000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V322000)

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